Melina Kanakaredes (“Providence”) has officially joined the cast of CBS’ “CSI: New York,” while one-time “Nanny” Fran Drescher has been added to the WB’s “Shacking Up.”

Kanakaredes will star opposite Gary Sinise as Stella, a New York crime scene unit detective, in the third edition of “CSI.” Thesp, who spent five seasons as Sydney Hansen in “Providence,” signed a rich talent deal with the Eye last summer (Daily Variety, Aug. 11).

She’ll appear later this year in an episode of “CSI: Miami,” which will also serve as the pilot to “CSI: New York.” Kanakaredes was originally attached to the homeland security project “ICE.” When that project didn’t move forward, she was available for “CSI: New York.”

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Meanwhile, Drescher will star in “Shacking Up” as Kate Reeves, a 40-something woman living with a boyfriend who’s just 24 years old — six months younger than her own son. Sparks fly when her son gets kicked out of medical school and moves back home.

Drescher’s recent credits include the ABC Family telepic “Beautiful Girl,” as well as a series of Old Navy ads. She’s still best known for her role as Fran Fine, the lead character in CBS’ long-running laffer “The Nanny.”

“Shacking Up,” also known as “Robbing the Cradle,” comes from Jamie Kennedy, Mike Langworthy, David Garrett, Jason Ward and Josh Etting. Regency and Wannabe Prods. produce.

In other casting news Tuesday:

Tamara Taylor (“Party of Five”) has joined the cast of the ABC laffer “Thank God It’s Monday” as Trish, while Ed Kerr (“Three Sisters”) will play Wes and Louis Lombardi (“NYPD Blue”) will play Rocky.

“Thank God It’s Monday,” from Touchstone TV, revolves around men who share their family life with co-workers. Warren Bell exec produces.

Julie Gonzalo (“Freaky Friday”) has joined the cast of the UPN sitcom pilot “Me Me Me” as Pearl, an NYU pre-med student who moves in with her sister in New York. Ayda Field (“Men, Women and Dogs”) will also star.

The 20th Century Fox TV laffer comes from Tom Straw and Lisa Birnbach.

John Ross Bowie (“A.U.S.A.”) will play Charlie, brother to Ethan Embry’s character in the Fox comedy pilot “Lucky Us.”

Pilot, from 20th Century Fox TV and Original TV, stars Embry and Chyler Leigh as a couple who go on a blind date and end up with an unexpected pregnancy. Holly Hester, Neil Moritz, Dawn Parouse and Marty Adelstein exec produce.

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